Rick Warren, founder and senior pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., announced in a letter today that his son, Matthew, 27, committed suicide.

In his letter, Warren wrote that "after a fun evening together with [wife] Kay and me, in a momentary wave of despair at his home, he took his life." He also recalled a time years ago when Matthew asked him, "Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?"

A guy I used to know and help is setting himself up as a public speaker, New Age type, has published two books, which I helped him edit, surprising myself by avoiding to judge their content while we were doing it, and he’s now a guru to help you with relationships, personal and business. Website, videos, national speaker’s bureau. When I knew him, not quite two years ago, and he was writing these books, or rather one book, that somehow gave birth to two books, he was going through serious family problems, foreign born wife with the typical for such women high expectations that he wasn’t able to meet, small child, small income. And now? Are those problems over? I hope so, but somehow I doubt it.

so sad... someone who is suicidal is in such a dark, desperate, seemingly hopeless place... how scary to be the parent, spouse, child or sibling of a suicidal person... actually, any close relation to a suicidal person... obviously, suicide is an anomaly...

“Dad, I know I’m going to heaven. Why can’t I just die and end this pain?”

Good lord. If my son said that to me, I would immediately get him help. I don’t care how much it costs. Yes his son was selfish and his parents lives are ruined most likely forever, but the Father should have known something was wrong. The guilt these parents are going to have is going to be tremendous. I pray for them.

24
posted on 04/06/2013 2:32:32 PM PDT
by napscoordinator
(Santorum-Bachmann 2016 for the future of the Country!)

The most faithful Christian families get pounded spiritually. We would all be wise to let God be their judge.

Except the most faithful Christians do not preach Chritslam and no one is trying to martyr Rick Warren so no one here is judging him.

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

When someone preaches something that goes totally against Scripture faithful Christians are not suppose to sit back and keep their mouth shut and say nothing . This mentality is why we are having the problems we are in this nation .

You say something to a muslim that he doesn't like - he chops off your head - that is judging someone . You say something that goes against Scripture and a faithful Christian points out that you are wrong is not the same thing . The faithful Christian might be giving you a headache from what you have heard but he isn't sentencing you by chopping off your head so do not equate the two .

Rick is playing with fire in attempting to convert Muslims unless he can clearly distinguish between Muslims who want to kill you and Muslims who want to be friends, but I haven’t seen anything personally that he is compromising his Christian beliefs or preaching anything against scripture at all.

I contemplated suicide many times when I was growing up because I was forced by my parents to be in church several times a week, both when there was some sort of service going on and not.

I finally escaped that tyrrany in 1970 and never went back.

I understand the frustration. If it were not for our church library where I could check out Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books to distract me during those seemingly endless and repetitive services, I would have gone insane.

36
posted on 04/06/2013 3:19:13 PM PDT
by elkfersupper
( Member of the Original Defiant Class)

Just a quick question/comment. When we are speaking or interacting directly with a fellow Believer concerning a possible error in our actions, this scripture makes sense assuming our comments are made privately, with respect and out of love (agape).

I am not aware that Pastor Warren is a member of FreeRepublic and suspect that if he is, he would be otherwise occupied with larger issues than reading this thread. When the individual is not present or we are not interacting directly with them, but instead are interacting with others, how would our comments differ from gossip?

Depression is a terrible thing. Anyone who has experienced it from time to time, or even worse, continuously, can attest to the helplessness and hopelessness of the experience. Nothing that anyone says seems to help.

So sad for the family which experiences such a loss. It’s like watching a loved one drown and not being able to rescue them.

Suicide is an awful thing, such finality in response to temporary problems. It’s also outside God’s will. It’s not our decision to make. I’m not going to condemn this young man personally, for who knows whether he was even capable of understanding what he did, or whether he was able to repent of it before he left this world? I surely don’t know. And, I’m sorry for the pain and sadness he left in his wake, for the family and friends who loved him.

Having watched Rick Warren for years, though, I’ll be waiting to see just when he begins trying to bend scripture to justify suicide and make it acceptable in the eyes of God. Truth appears to be a malleable thing based upon personal circumstance for Mr. Warren. I’m not sorry to say that this is utterly wrong, and if he preaches or publishes any such thing he will be leading souls not to salvation but to destruction.

Over the last year especially, me too. My wife left one year ago, then I got laid off. I was unable to perform up to my previous level, mostly due to the shock of her leaving, so I got a package. That is now gone, so I am cashing in some RRSPs to live on and pay bills (I think Stateside you call them IRAs). No job interviews yet and losing our house is a distinct possibility at 52 YoA. My former church closed in January. I pray that I do not experience a year like this again, nor would I wish it on anyone else, but I thank the Lord for this past year’s experience.

During this past year, my faith has grown deeply, sinking roots and turning rocky ground into fertile soil. We sometimes think that we have built our foundations on rock, but we can be easily mistaken. It is in the valley where we grow. Many scripture passages refer to the Lord passing us through a refining fire. Is it painful? Of course, trials (fire) are painful but we learn to appreciate the mountain-top only if we experience the valley. Our ‘instant gratification’ society does not understand, nor wish to understand trials. Most leftist/socialist voters (Democrat in US, Liberal & NDP in Canada) flee trials. Unfortunately, Pastor Warren’s son may have had emotion/mental issues and could not understand the ‘beauty’ of trials.

No matter what the challenge, hold on to Jesus! Remember, Peter walking on the Sea of Galilee? When he focused on Jesus, he could walk on the water, yet when he looked away, he sank. (Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21) Keep your eyes on the Lord and watch Him do amazing things!

And exactly how do you know that Rick Warren didn’t do that? Are you all knowing that they did nothing to help their son? You are, as usual, just assuming. You know what that makes you, don’t you? An ass!

Canadian, what in Lera's post where she opines that Warren's preaching goes against the Gospel (I agree, having read "Purpose Driven Life" and having been disgusted with Warren's role in Obama/McCain electioneering and enabling politicians that promote amoral government to shackle Christian morality, and a few other things), could remotely be construed as "gossip"? Not an admonition, merely a question.

Lera, good post. Gutsy and true. I find myself compelled to pray for the soul of the young man who committed suicide, not for his dad, who presumably has spiritual resources within and around him to suffice -- he's a pastor of a huge church, for crying out loud! His son seems not to have had those spiritual resources of strength, the poor soul. May God find and comfort him, and any and all who contemplate suicide, and may Jesus take their hand and love them, save them at the last moment before their dying breath. Jesus is the one who saves.

Then prove it to me big lady. Where your proof ditzy?Here's my proof. This shows you to be an ass again! You just love to criticize others. You should take care of your house before throwing stones at others!

From the link below:

"Unfortunately, he also suffered from mental illness resulting in deep depression and suicidal thoughts. Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life." and

"Over the years, Matthew Warren had been treated by America's best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others, his father said.

Still, he struggled over the years.

"I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said `Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?"' Warren recalled.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.